New coach, same old Cutler

CaptionWho wrote Matt Blanchard's Wikipedia page?

US Presswire

Blanchard, the quarterback who's now out with a broken hand, looked pretty good in the preseason loss against Carolina. His Wikipedia page says he played a majority of his college ball at Division III University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, which sounds made up. Are we sure this is a real school?...

Blanchard, the quarterback who's now out with a broken hand, looked pretty good in the preseason loss against Carolina. His Wikipedia page says he played a majority of his college ball at Division III University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, which sounds made up. Are we sure this is a real school?... (US Presswire)

CaptionWill Marc Trestman accidentally have the team punt on third down because he's used to Canadian Football League rules?

Nuccio DiNuzzo/Tribune

Did you know CFL teams get only three downs in a series? And the field is 110 yards long, with a "C" line in the middle between two 50-yard lines? And their end zones are twice as deep? Did you forget this information already? I bet you did. The good news is, the way the Bears have played...

Did you know CFL teams get only three downs in a series? And the field is 110 yards long, with a "C" line in the middle between two 50-yard lines? And their end zones are twice as deep? Did you forget this information already? I bet you did. The good news is, the way the Bears have played... (Nuccio DiNuzzo/Tribune)

CaptionJosh McCown is backing up Jay Cutler. Will there ever be a decent quarterback whose last name begins with ¿Mc¿ and ends in ¿own?¿

Chris Sweda/Tribune

Am I the only one here having Cade McNown flashbacks? I see "Mc_own" on the back of a starting quarterback's jersey, and I immediately drop down into the fetal position, much like Cade McNown did. 4. Will the Bears maintain last year's league-leading turnover differential, or will regression to...

Am I the only one here having Cade McNown flashbacks? I see "Mc_own" on the back of a starting quarterback's jersey, and I immediately drop down into the fetal position, much like Cade McNown did. 4. Will the Bears maintain last year's league-leading turnover differential, or will regression to... (Chris Sweda/Tribune)

CaptionWill the Bears maintain last year¿s league-leading turnover differential, or will regression to the mean handcuff the team with a mediocre season?

Brian Cassella/Tribune

I'm just kidding, guys. I would never really use "turnover differential" or "regression to the mean" in a conversation. Unless it was behind closed doors. We all know the Bears are going to have a mediocre season. The Bears LOVE to have mediocre seasons.

I'm just kidding, guys. I would never really use "turnover differential" or "regression to the mean" in a conversation. Unless it was behind closed doors. We all know the Bears are going to have a mediocre season. The Bears LOVE to have mediocre seasons. (Brian Cassella/Tribune)

I have a feeling it's going to be more of an encouraging 8-8 after going into the bye week with a semi-disastrous 2-5 record, but I wouldn't rule out an injury-ravaged 9-7, or even a 10-6 with a first-round playoff exit led by Trent Edwards.

I have a feeling it's going to be more of an encouraging 8-8 after going into the bye week with a semi-disastrous 2-5 record, but I wouldn't rule out an injury-ravaged 9-7, or even a 10-6 with a first-round playoff exit led by Trent Edwards. (US Presswire)

My question is, does he really understand it? While Cutler has said time and again that everyone on the team has "bought into" Trestman's offense, one can question if he is an exception. For example, in the second preseason game, against San Diego, all five of Cutler's passes were intended for Brandon Marshall.

Against Carolina the week before, with Marshall out of the lineup, Cutler focused on Alshon Jeffery. And as we head into Week 3 of the preseason, Cutler has yet to throw a pass to $20 million tight end Martellus Bennett.

Outside of Marshall, Cutler has thrown to only five different receivers. He has also continued old habits of holding onto the ball for too long, forcing throws (which have led to turnovers) and taking unnecessary sacks. Not everything is the offensive line's fault.

This is a stark contrast from the Cutler repoters see in practice. It is in that atmosphere that the former Vanderbilt standout embodies the qualities of Trestman's West Coast offense.

He throws the ball with a quick and urgent release, he spreads the wealth to different receivers, he makes wise decisions and looks like a more efficient quarterback. Now the challenge is translating that to game day.

With Cutler in the final year of his contract, he has no excuses. The time is now for him to prove he is an "elite" quarterback. The Bears addressed the team's needs in the offseason by bringing in talent to fix the positions that failed the Bears in 2012 (tight end ,offensive line, etc.).

If "Mr. Cavallari" wants to be financially rewarded in 2014, he needs to transition from good practice player, to game winner. When he can achieve these goals on the field, then I'll believe that he's "bought into" the new offense.

Until then, he's still just the same old Cutler we've all come to know and tolerate.

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